Spatial distribution of bed variables, animal welfare indicators, and milk production in a closed compost-bedded pack barn with a negative tunnel ventilation system

et al. 2022

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

Self Cite

In this study, we aimed to assess the spatial variability of microclimate inside a closed compost-bedded pack barn (CBP) with a negative ventilation system during summer and winter. The research was carried out in a CBP located in the Zona da Mata region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. For each of the stations analyzed, the following environmental mean variables observed inside a CBP were measured: air dry-bulb temperature (t db ), air relative humidity (RH), and windspeed, Temperature-Humidity index, and specific enthalpy. The kriging maps showed that the most critical housing conditions in the thermal environment were found, mainly, from the central part of the CBP, close to the exhaust fans. The analyses also pointed out that the system presented temperature gradients along the length, up to 3°C. During the summer afternoon, the entire region of the CBP was in a discomfort situation (t db >26°C; RH>75%). During the winter, the measured environmental data remained within the comfort zone throughout the facility. However, probably due to the lack of thermal insulation of the material used to close the sides of the CBP, it did not allow spatial thermal uniformity for both seasons.It was also inefficient to keep the animals within the comfort zone for lactating cattle during the critical summer period.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial analysis of microclimatic variables in compost-bedded pack barn with evaporative tunnel cooling

Andrade

Tinôco

et al. 2022

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

Self Cite

“…The type of barn construction varied, including the barn dimensions, the type of ridge, the ridge orientation, the ventilation system, etc. [ 1 , 3 ]. Although CBP barns have different remarkable characteristics in their layout, the bed area was the only common feature between the assessed CBP barns [ 1 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the late 1980s, innovative dairy producers in the state of Virginia introduced a new variation on the loose-housing dairy system, generally referred to as a compost-bedded pack (CBP) barn. Since then, CBP barns have been used in many states in the United States, especially in the Midwest and Northeast, and in other countries such as Japan, China, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Israel [ 1 ], and recently, in Brazil [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. This significant increase is indicative that a CBP barn may be a reasonable, economically feasible alternative type of dairy housing facility for dairy producers wanting to upgrade or modernize their milking herd facilities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compost Dairy Barn Layout and Management Recommendations in Kentucky: A Descriptive Study

Day

Taraba

et al. 2022

Animals

This study was conducted to describe the building layout and dimensions, characterize the bedding material, and observe the management practices in 42 compost-bedded pack (CBP) barns in Kentucky (USA). The average herd size found in the study was 90 cows and the breeds consisted of Jersey (6.8%), Holstein (72.7%), and mixed (20.5%). The average CBP barn dimensions were 49.1 m (length) by 21.9 m (width). Many of these barns had feed alleys and driveways; overshot ridges with frequent orientation from NE to SW; and green sawdust, kiln-dried sawdust, or a mixture of both as the most common bedding materials. The bed-turning process was performed mechanically at depths of less than 0.25 m, and the loading of fresh material was performed every one to five weeks, varying by season, weather conditions, barn size, and cow density. The average bedding moisture content was found to be 59.0% (wet bulb—w.b.) and ranged from 36.2 to 71.8%. Coliforms were not present in barns that had a higher compost temperature, and the E. coli, Bacillus, and Streptococcus counts were higher in the barns that had a lower moisture content. In conclusion, it was observed that heterogeneous management was used among the barns and that the producers were satisfied with the compost barn system.

“…In this case, natural ventilation was initially explored. However, in places where the natural ventilation rate is low or the temperature and relative humidity conditions are extreme, it is necessary to use mechanical ventilation systems, either associated or not associated with evaporative adiabatic cooling [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although previous studies have carried out the mapping of the thermal environment inside CBP systems, few studies have evaluated this environment under Brazilian winter conditions. The use of this tool in animal ambience is quite satisfactory, and has been carried out by several researchers [ 10 , 11 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. In view of the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize the dependence and spatial distribution of the thermal environment variables and indices in an open compost-bedded pack barn system with positive-pressure ventilation (CBPPV) during the Brazilian winter period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping of the Thermal Microenvironment for Dairy Cows in an Open Compost-Bedded Pack Barn System with Positive-Pressure Ventilation

Oliveira

Tinôco

et al. 2022

Animals

Self Cite

The objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize the dependence and the spatial and temporal distribution of variables and indices of the thermal environment in an open compost-bedded pack barn system with positive-pressure ventilation (CBPPV) during the winter period. The study was conducted in a CBPPV system located in the Zona da Mata region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The indoor environment was divided into a mesh composed of 55 equidistant points, where data on dry-bulb air temperature (tdb) and relative humidity (RH) were collected. The collected data were divided into four periods—dawn, morning, afternoon, and night—and mean values were obtained. To evaluate the thermal microenvironment, the temperature and humidity index (THI) and the specific enthalpy of air (h) were used. For spatial dependence analysis, geostatistical techniques were applied. Through the results, a strong spatial dependence was verified for all variables evaluated. Through THI and h maps, conditions of thermal comfort were found for dairy cattle. The highest values of tdb, THI, and h were recorded in the afternoon period in the northwest region of the facility (tdb = 23.2 °C, THI = 69.7, and h = 50.9 kJ∙kg of dry air−1).